Servicing Obvious Problems

If the Service LED on the system front panel (or the clock+ board) indicates a hardware failure, find the failing module by looking for a lit service LED on the individual module.

The system contains a number of hot-pluggable modules. Under limited conditions, these modules can be removed and replaced while the system continues running. (For a general description of the hot-plug feature, see "Hot-Plug Feature".)

The hot-pluggable modules include these types: CPU/Memory+ board, SBus+ I/O board, Graphics+ I/O board, PCI+ I/O board, and PCM.

The hot-plug feature requires a functional peripheral power supply/AC. If the peripheral power supply cannot provide current, the hot-pluggable module will be damaged if you attempt to remove or replace it.

If a module fails and there are redundant resources in the system, it may be safe to leave the module in a running system until a replacement part is delivered. For example, if a CPU fails (as indicated perhaps by system messages), but other CPUs continue to function in the system, you can leave the CPU/Memory+ board in place until a replacement CPU is available. Note that it is particularly helpful to leave a module in place if you do not have a filler panel to replace it.

If you choose to remove a faulty board or PCM, remember that you must fill the vacated slot with a replacement or a filler panel to prevent the system from overheating.